http://apublicdefender.com/2007/07/08/eliminating-harsh-penalties-for-sale-of-drugs-near-schools/ Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:30:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/07/08/eliminating-harsh-penalties-for-sale-of-drugs-near-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-2938 Disturbing racial disparities in incarcerated population | a public defender Wed, 18 Jul 2007 23:36:20 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/07/08/eliminating-harsh-penalties-for-sale-of-drugs-near-schools/#comment-2938 [...] Obviously a big contributor to this is the drug policy - especially the sentence enhancements for sale within school zones [previous commentary here]. [...] [...] Obviously a big contributor to this is the drug policy - especially the sentence enhancements for sale within school zones [previous commentary here]. [...]

]]> http://apublicdefender.com/2007/07/08/eliminating-harsh-penalties-for-sale-of-drugs-near-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-2620 Miranda Mon, 09 Jul 2007 12:52:46 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/07/08/eliminating-harsh-penalties-for-sale-of-drugs-near-schools/#comment-2620 Great post, great idea. The other element to this that really angers me is the controlled buy. Police officers (at least in CT) will often arrange buys at locations they know are within 1500 feet of a prohibited area. I realize the goal is to get the highest level of criminal exposure possible, but I thought the purpose of these laws was to protect kids?? It baffles me that we allow law enforcement to deliberately place dealers and drugs in the very areas our legislature has deemed to be high risk for children. Something's not right there. Great post, great idea. The other element to this that really angers me is the controlled buy. Police officers (at least in CT) will often arrange buys at locations they know are within 1500 feet of a prohibited area. I realize the goal is to get the highest level of criminal exposure possible, but I thought the purpose of these laws was to protect kids?? It baffles me that we allow law enforcement to deliberately place dealers and drugs in the very areas our legislature has deemed to be high risk for children. Something’s not right there.

]]> http://apublicdefender.com/2007/07/08/eliminating-harsh-penalties-for-sale-of-drugs-near-schools/comment-page-1/#comment-2618 Stephen Gustitis Mon, 09 Jul 2007 11:53:44 +0000 http://apublicdefender.com/2007/07/08/eliminating-harsh-penalties-for-sale-of-drugs-near-schools/#comment-2618 Gideon: I wish they'd get rid of the "drug free zones" in Texas as well. I've been practicing 17 years and have yet to see somebody selling drugs to a kid within one of these zones. I never thought of the racial disparity that occurs comparing drug trafficking in urban areas compared to suburban, or rural. Also, Mike Lawlor is right. The "Kick Ass Norps" just hate lowering penalties and cutting people a break. Thanks for your post this morning. Gideon:
I wish they’d get rid of the “drug free zones” in Texas as well. I’ve been practicing 17 years and have yet to see somebody selling drugs to a kid within one of these zones. I never thought of the racial disparity that occurs comparing drug trafficking in urban areas compared to suburban, or rural. Also, Mike Lawlor is right. The “Kick Ass Norps” just hate lowering penalties and cutting people a break. Thanks for your post this morning.

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